USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 33
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REV. DR. TIMOTHY JOHNES-DR. RICHARDS'S PASTORATE.
affection and concord. Habits of litigation he regarded as eminently inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, and he therefore labored that his people might endeavor to hold " the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." Nor did he labor in vain. He was regarded as the tried friend of his people, and they unhesitatingly reposed with confidence on his judgment.
" Dr. Johnes was a warm and decided friend to revi- vals of religion. He received his education in the time of President Edwards and Whitefield and the Tennants. He came to this place in the period of the greatest ex- citement on the subject of religion that this country has ever known. Many of the older inhabitants of this place can still recollect the interest with which he read to his congregation accounts of revivals in other parts of the country. He labored and prayed fervently that his own congregation might be brought also to a participa- tion of the blessings that descended on other parts of the land. His sentiments on this subject are recorded in in- cidental notices attached to the names of those who were added to the church during these seasons of special mercy. In one place he says, 'These the sweet fruits of the wonderful effusion of God's adorable grace began on our sacrament day, July Ist 1764.' In another, 'those that follow the ingatherings of the divine harvest in 1774-sweet drops of the morning dew.'
" Few men have ever been more successful as ministers of the gospel than Dr. Johnes. To have been the instru- ment of founding a large and flourishing church; to have been regarded as its affectionate father and guide; to have established the ordinances of the gospel, and formed the people to respect its institutions; to have produced that outward order and morality and love of good insti- tutions now observable in this congregation, was itself worthy of the toils of his life. In being permitted to regard himself as, under God, the originator of habits and good institutions which are to run into coming gen- erations, he could not but look upon his toils as amply recompensed.
" But he was permitted also to see higher fruit of the labor of his ministry. It pleased a gracious God, not only to grant a gradual increase of the church, but also at two different times to visit the congregation with a special revival of religion. The first occurred in 1764. This commenced, as has been noted, on the sacrament day, July Ist. The fruits of this revival were the admission to the church, within the space of about a year, of ninety- four persons. Of the characteristics of this revival little is known, except that it was a work of deep feeling, much anxiety, awful apprehensions of the nature of sin and of the justice of God, impressive solemnity, and sound and thorough hopeful conversions to God. The second revival commenced in 1774. As the result of this about fifty were added to the church. In 1790 there was another season of unusual excitement on the subject of religion, and about forty were united to the church."
2. Rev. Aaron C. Collins was settled January 6th 1791 as colleague pastor of Dr. Johnes; he was dismissed after a brief and unpleasant pastorate, September 2nd 1793.
wood. This was in due time accepted by him, and on the Ist of May 1795 he was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of New York. Dr. McWhorter, of Newark, preached the ordination sermon from Acts xx. 24. Dr. Rogers, of New York, presided; Mr. Austin, of Elizabeth gave the charge to the people. In the year 1801 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Princeton College, and in 1805, at the age of 37, was chosen moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
In November 1795 the old church was taken down, vacated, and sold in lots. A good part of it was con- verted into a distillery and cider-mill on Water street, So great, so it was said, was the attachment of many of the members for it that they could not refrain from vis- iting it in its new location. On November 26th 1795 Mr. Richards preached the first sermon in the new and pres- ent house.
The old plan of rating and collecting was now discon- tinued; and in its place the pews were sold and assessed. The number purchasing or renting pews was 158, and the sum paid was $533.35. The expenses for 1797, ac- cording to an old memorandum, were: Salary, $440; sweeping the church, $15; sexton, $15; cake for wood cutters, $19; printing, $2; "Cyder," $5.62. Total, $496.62. Cake and cider formed it would appear no inconsiderable part of the sum total of expenses. The minister was promised so much salary, parsonage and fire-wood. The "wood-frolick," as it was called, was a great event in the parish. It brought together the greater part of the congregation, the ladies preparing supper at the parsonage, which was heartily enjoyed by those who were busy during the day in bringing together the year's supply of fuel for their minister, which aver- aged about 40 cords. We find the amounts expended by the parish. for these frolics in 1797, as seen above, to be for cake and cider, $24.62; in 1798, bread and beef, $18.94; in 1799, I cwt. of flour and 200 lbs. of beef, $10.83.
The spinning visit was similar in character, though we do not find that it was attended with expense to the parish. By this means there were collected together various amounts of linen thread, yard and cloth, pro- portioned to the "gude " wife's ability or generosity. The thread was woven into cloth for the use and comfort of the pastor and his family, and as it was not always of the same texture and size it sometimes puzzled the weaver to make the cloth and finish it alike.
The meagerness of Mr. Richards's salary was a source of great perplexity to him as the expenses of his growing family increased, and finally led to his accepting a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, N. J. During his pastorate of fourteen years he admitted to the church on examination 214, and on certificate 29. He baptized 444, and solemnized 251 marriages. At the time of his dismission the church numbered 298 members in full communion.
3. Rev. James Richards, D.D., was settled May Ist 1795, and dismissed April 26th 1809. Like Dr. Johnes, Dr. Richards was of Welsh descent. He was born at New Canaan, Conn., October 29th 1767. He labored first as a licentiate at Ballston, N. Y., and afterward supplied two small congregations on Long Island. On the 21st of July 1794 a call from this church was made and put into his hands, in which he was offered $440 salary in Mr. Richards remained in Newark fifteen years, when quarterly payments, the use of the parsonage and fire |he resigned his charge to accept the professorship of
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
theology in the theological seminary at Auburn, N. Y. Here he remained until his death, August 2nd 1843.
4. Rev. Samuel Fisher, D. D., settled August 9th 1809; dismissed April 27th 1814.
Jonathan Fisher was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary army, was taken sick in the performance of his duties, and died of camp fever in this town in March 1777, three months before the birth of his son Samuel, the successor of Mr. Richards. He was buried in the old cemetery in the rear of the church. Samuel was born in Sunderland, Mass., June 30th 1777; graduated at Wil- liams College in 1799, and afterward filled the position of tutor in the college for some time. He was ordained November Ist 1805, and settled over the Congregational church of Wilton, Conn., from whence he was called to this church. He was an able minister and laborious pas- tor, yet the political excitement of the time was such that he gave offense in certain sermons preached in 1812 (which he afterward published to show the groundlessness of the charges made against him); this finally led to the resignation of his charge. The last person he received into the communion of the church was an aged woman who thirty-seven years before had attended his father in his last illness. While here he officiated at 86 marriages and 279 funerals. There were added to the church in thh same time 65 on profession and 32 by certificate. His congregation embraced and he visited in his pastoral work over 500 families. In the years 1811 and 1812 he took a census of the village and township, and found the number of white males to be 466, females 511, blacks 134-total, I, III; inhabitants out of the village-white males 1,018, females 1,020, blacks 68-total, 2, 106; in all 3,217. Number of baptized persons in the village, 152; in the country, 378; total, 530. Church members in the village, 102; in the parish, out of the village, 206; total, 308.
5. Rev. William A. Mc Dowell, D. D .; settled Decem- ber 13th 1814; dismissed October 23d 1823. Dr. Mc- Dowell was born at Lamington, N. J., in May 1789; studied at Elizabethtown under Mr. Henry Mills, a son of this church and afterward professor in the theological seminary at Auburn, N. Y .; graduated at Princeton in 1809 and was then tutor in the same; entered the first class in the theological seminary at Princeton in 1812; was ordained and installed pastor of the church at Bound Brook December 22nd 1815, where he remained less than a year. His pastorate in Morristown was highly success- ful, and large numbers were added to the church, 130 in 1822. The severe labors of this great revival seriously affected his health, never vigorous. He was obliged to go south; and shortly after this, receiving a call to Charleston, S. C., he felt constrained on the ground of health to accept it. He died in this place, September 17th 1851, having shortly before returned here to put himself under the care of his old physician, Dr. Johnes. During his pastorate of nearly nine years 271 were added to the church on profession, and 46 by letter-317 in all.
In 1816 a Sabbath-school was established in connec- tion with the church. Before this a few active friends
met on Sabbath to instruct the colored people, which may be considered as the first movement in this section for planting that institution which God has so much hon- ored and blessed to both teacher and scholar. The school of this church was first under the superintend- ance of one or two devoted ladies, assisted by an effi- cient corps of teachers, among whom we find the names Mills, Condit, Johnson, Johnes, Schenck, etc., all ladies. In 1819 a lecture room, the predecessor of the pres- ent one, was built under the management and super- vision of John Mills.
In 1822 stoves and lamps were first introduced into the church. The former innovation was very much op- posed by a few as leading to effeminacy. Their fathers and mothers had faithfully attended the sanctuary with- out any such comforts, being satisfied with the smell of fire from the foot stoves. One good man affirmed that they had always trusted Providence for keeping warm and should do so still; opposition was slight, however, and stoves and lamps were soon fixtures in the church, at an expense of $254. Previous to this when the church was lighted, which was but seldom, it was done by candles taken by different members of the congre- gation. Opposition to stoves was on a par with the re- pugnance of many to insuring the church, which was deemed a wanton disregard of God's providence and an act that boded no good. These wood stoves continued till 1835, when they were found insufficient for warm- ing the building; coal stoves were then substituted and were used until the furnaces were introduced. The lamps remained until 1842, when others were purchased sufficient to give a fine light over the whole church. These were rendered useless by the introduction of gas. 6. Rev. Albert Barnes; ordained and installed Feb. 8th 1825, dismissed June 8th 1830. Mr. Barnes graduated at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., in 1820. His theo- logical studies were pursued at Princeton. This was Mr. Barnes's first pastorate, and to hisMaster's work here he consecrated all his powers. His sermons were close, pungent, discriminating and pointed, making no con- promises with sin, and fearlessly uttered. The greatest commotion was excited in the early part of his ministry by his decided and unflinching course on temperance. That great work was begining to occupy the thoughts of many. Here he found drinking customs in vogue, and distilleries dotted all over the parish. Within the limits of his pastoral charge there were 19 places where ardent spirits were made and 20 where they were sold. To arrest the evils that are ever associated with this vice, and re- move if possible the curse from the community, he early called the attention of his people to the subject by a se- ries of sermons in which he appealed to their reason, con- science and religion, and sought to lead them to an abandonment of social drinking usages, and of the places where intoxicating drinks were manufactured and sold. Some engaged in the traffic were first indignant at his interference and radical measures, and after listen- ing to his discourse determined never again to be pres- ent to listen to another; but at the time for the delivery
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PASTORS OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN.
of the next sermon they were in their places anxious to hear what he would say, and at last so convinced were they of the injury that they were doing to the morals of the place and the happiness of families that soon 17 of the distilleries were closed, and not long after his de- parture the fires of the other two went out.
Here also commenced that system of early rising and literary labor which resulted in his well known commenta- ries on the Bible. He devoted the hours from 4 to 9 o'clock in the morning to this work. Here also was preached and published the sermon called "The Way of Salvation," which was greatly instrumental in his being called to the First church of Philadelphia, and which from its statements in regard to certain doctrines led to discussion, opposition, censure, trial and a temporary suspension of his ministerial duties and finally to the di- vision of the Presbyterian church into the Old School and New School branches.
No man has left his impress upon this congregation more than Mr. Barnes. He came here in his youthful vigor, and God largely owned his labors, and few minis- ters have had a more attached people than his parish- ioners, who loved him for his excellencies, revered him for his piety and have followed his after life with undevi- ating interest; 296 were admitted to the church, 228 on profession and 68 by certificate.
He was installed pastor over the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia on the 25th of June 1830, where he remained to his death, Dec. 24th 1870.
7. Rev. Charles Hoover; settled February 8th 1832; dismissed March roth 1836. According to its report to the General Assembly the church under the pastorate of Mr. Hoover was the largest in the State of New Jersey. On June 26th 1833 Mr. Hoover assisted in the organiza- tion of a church at New Vernon, drawn mainly from this society; 30 were dismissed that year from this church and several during the next two years. That enterprise received material aid in the erection of a building from this church.
8. Rev. Orlando L. Kirtland; settled March 23d 1837; dismissed August 26th 1840. One of the first acts of the new pastor was to make a corrected list of the members of the church. The number found to be in actual com- munion was 453. Mr. Kirtland was dismissed to become the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, organized under him in this place.
9. Rev. A. Henry Dumont, D. D .; settled January 20th 1841; dismissed July 9th 1845. During the four and a half years of this pastorate III were received by letter and on profession into membership of the church.
On September Ist 1845 a call was made and presented to Rev. Jonathan B. Condict, which was not accepted.
10. Rev. Alexander R. Thompson; ordained and ill- stalled January 14th 1846; dismissed July 28th 1847.
II. Rev. James Richards, D. D .; settled December 28th 1847; dismissed April 15th 1851. Mr. Richards was the son of the second pastor of the church. He added to the church 19 on profession and 53 by letter.
12. Rev. John H. Townley; settled December 27th 1851;
died February 5th 1855. Mr. Townley came here from the church at Hackettstown. He labored faithfully and zealously, and God blessed his labors; but consumption had marked him as its victim, and cut him off in the midst of his usefulness and years. He was born at West- field, N. J., in March 1818. The following minute is quoted from the session-book: "That as a pastor his qualities of mind and heart and his excellencies of life and character have made him a rich blessing to this church and congregation." During his pastorate 85 were received into communion with the church, 50 by letter and 35 on profession. In February 1852 Hon. J. Phillips Phoenix presented the church with a town clock at a cost of $450.
13. Rev. David Irving, D. D .; settled November 5th 1855; dismissed May roth 1865. Dr. Irving's pastorate here was largely blessed; 376 were added to the church, 168 by letter and 208 by profession. He largely stimu- lated the church in benevolence. Bringing with him the true missionary spirit from his experience as a missionary in India, he infused the same spirit into the people. Under him the church became noted for its liberality, a distinction which it has continued to maintain. It is unnecessary to say that since his dismission from this church he has been one of the secretaries of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church.
14. Rev. Gavin Langmuir; settled July 17th 1866; dis- missed September 9th 1868. Mr. Langmuir came here directly from Princeton Seminary. His health soon gave way; and after laboring about three months he was sent to Europe by the church, where he remained until his resignation. He is at present pastor of the American church at Florence, Italy.
15. Rev. John Abbott French; settled December 21st 1868; dismissed January 31st 1877. Mr. French's pastor- ate was highly successful. He added to the church 336 in all, 128 by letter and 208 on profession. He resigned to accept a call to the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Ill. After laboring there for three years he was obliged to resign because of ill health, and he still remains for the same reason unsettled.
16. Rev. Rufus Smith Green began his labors here June 17th 1877, and was installed on the 18th of the fol- lowing month. Under his pastorate, which closed Oc- tober 11th 1881, 131 were added to the church, 77 by let- ter and 54 on profession.
Officers of the Church .- The present officers are: Ruling Elders-Enoch T. Caskey, Joel Davis, Henry M. Dalrymple, Wm. D. Johnson, Wayland Spaulding, Wm. W. Stone, James Richards Voorhees, Lebbeus B. Ward, Aaron D.Whitehead, Joseph H. Van Doren, Theodore Lit- tle, clerk. Deacons-Victor Fleury, Henry M. Olmstead. Trustees-Aurelius B. Hull (president), Thos. C. Bush- nell, Wm. E. Church, Edward Pierson, Henry C. Pitney, Joseph H. Van Doren (clerk). Treasurer of parish, A. B. Hull; clerk of parish, James R. Voorhees; superintend- ent of Sunday-school, Wm. D. Johnson; sexton, Francis L. Whitehead. The present membership of the church is 600; number in the Sunday-school, 450; congrega-
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
tional expenses for year, $6,500; beneficence for year, $9,000.
We append a complete list of ruling elders of the First Church from its organization, with the date of taking office:
1747-Joseph Prudden, Matthew Lum, John Lindsley, Joseph Coe, Jacob Ford; 1752-Abner Beach; 1754- Solomon Munson, Daniel Lindsley; 1761-Daniel Mor- ris, Timothy Mills, Matthias Burnet; 1769-John Ayres, John Lindsley jr .; 1770-Ezra Halsey; 1777-Joseph Lindsley, Gilbert Allen, Philip Condict, Jonas Phillips; 1785-Joseph Prudden jr., Caleb Munson, Philip Linds- ley, Ezra Halsey; 1792-Isaac Prudden, Samuel Free- man, Jesse Cutler, Matthias Crane; 1805-Henry Vail, David Lindsley, Zophar Freeman, James Stevenson; 1812-Stephen Young, Jacob Pierson, Lewis Mills, Peter A. Johnson; 1826-Timothy Tucker, William Enslee, George K. Drake, Frederick King, Jonathan Thompson, Jonathan Oliver; 1832-Stephen A. Prudden, Jonathan D. Marvin, John B. Johnes, M. D., John R. Freeman, Jonathan Pierson, Sylvester R. Whitehead, John W. Cortelyou; 1843-Ezra Mills; 1846-Ira Condict White- head; 1857-David Olyphant, Richard W. Stevenson, M. D .; 1859-Joel Davis, Theodore Little; 1870- Henry M. Dalrymple, James D. Stevenson; 1871-Leb- beus B. Ward, Austin Requa, William W. Stone, Enoch T. Caskey, Joseph H. Van Doren, William G. Anderson; 1880-Aaron D. Whitehead, James Richards Voorhees, William D. Johnson, Wayland Spaulding.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist is the second of the Morristown churches in point of age. It was formed August 11th 1752. On the 8th of the previous June eleven persons obtained dismission from the church at Piscataway, and were organized by Elders Isaac Eaton, Benjamin Miller and Isaac Steele into " The Baptist Church at Morristown." Their names were Daniel Sutton, Jonas Goble, John Sutton, Melatiah Goble, Jemima Wiggins, Daniel Wal- ling, Ichabod Tomkins, Sarah Wiggins, Mary Goble, Naomi Allen and Robert Goble. On the 19th of August they held their first meeting for business, elected a deacon and clerk, and although destitute of a pastor made arrangements for public worship and the observ- ance of the ordinances. The house occupied for wor- ship was a small building a mile or two south of the village, on the road to New Vernon, in which direction the principal part of the membership appears to have lived. This house was occupied until May 177t, when a new building was dedicated on the site upon which the present church stands.
Malcom Brookfield, of Newark, has in his possession an old memorandum book, kept by his grandfather, John Brookfield, from which we learn that February 15th 1769, at a meeting of the Baptist church at Morristown, it was concluded that subscription papers be drawn up as soon as possible for the building of a new meeting-house " on Morristown Green." If £200 were signed, ex- clusive of what the church members gave, they were to go on with the building. The following subscriptions were made:
Zopher Gildenshaw, 13s. IId .; Jeams Brookfield, Ios. tod .; Jeams Miller, Is. 9d .; Benjamin Goble, 9s. 8d .;
Robard (Robert?) Goble, £2 5d .; Elijah Person, 9s. 2d .; Captain Stark, £3 3s. 9d .; Ephriem Goble, £8 Is .; John Linsly, 6s. 2d .; Fradreck King, £2 16s. 2d .; Joseph Wood, £2 10s. 6d .; Garshom Goble, £3 6s. 1od .; John Brookfield, £5 2s. 9d .; Samuel Serin and Zopher Free- man. in part, £1 18s. 9d .; Moses Monson, £1 5s. 10d .; Anais Holsey, £6 Tos. 4d .; Gilbard Allien, £1 4S. 3d .; William Goble, £1 9s. 9d :; Hanah Lincton, 5s. 6d .; Jon- athan Wood, 13s. 5d .; Solomon Monson, 4s. 2d .; Solomon Southard, £3 18s. 6d .; Aaron Stark Jun., £6 13s. 11d .; Peter Jollomons, £6 3s. 3d .; John Stark, {I Is .; Jacob Allien and John Allien, £3 17s .; Daniel Congar, 5s. Id .; Abraham Person, 2s .; John Lepard, 9s. 9d .; Thomas Wood, 2s .; Waitstill Monson, 19s. 6d .; Gorge Goble, IS. Id .; Joseph Fairchild, 5s. 11d .; Anney Wilkison, {1 2S. 2d .; Benjamin Goble by Jemimey Day, £1 75. 7d .; Moses Person, £1 16s. 6d .; John Conkling, f1 3s .; John Shadwick, Is. Id .; Abraham Ludlow, 10s. 9d .; Jeams Hill, £1 15s. 8d .; Robard Goble, 13s. 5d .; Wil- liam Cullen, £3. Total, £76 19s.
" Aaron Curnit also gave £8 Proc. and £12 Lite."
During the encampment of Washington here this building, like that of the First Presbyterian Church, was used as a hospital for the sick of the army.
After seventy years of service a new edifice was felt to be a pressing necessity. It was thought best to change the location; and build the new house at Littleton. Ac- cordingly, at a church meeting held April 24th 1840, the trustees were " authorized to offer the meeting-house and lot for sale, and to give title therefor." In accordance with this decision they commenced negotiations with a committee of the Second Presbyterian Church (then about being organized) for the disposal of the property, at the price of $2,500, reserving the cemetery adjoining. The terms of sale were agreed upon, except that the com- mittee demanded a part of the cemetery. To this the church would not agree, and the negotiations were consequently concluded. This failure to dispose of their property prevented the removal to Littleton. They now commenced the erection of a new meeting-house, which was dedicated on the 8th of October 1845. During the time of building they worshiped by invitation in the session-house of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1857 the church was improved and enlarged. On the 27th of January the following year it was rededicated, and it is still occupied by the congregation.
The church roll shows the following numerical strength: in 1752 organized with 11 members; in 1826, 45 members; in 1834, 35; in 1847, 42; in 1853, 116; in 1860, 132; in 1868, 177; in 1872, 194; present member- ship, 173.
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